Improvement in grain-harvesters



NITED STATES ATsNr OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 12,2!5, dated January 9, 1855.

usual manner of making, modifying, and using the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings.

Figure l is an elevation taken from the left side of the machine. Fig. 2 is a top view of the tongue. Fig. 3 is an elevation taken from the right side of the machine. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detached viewv lof the Scythe-plate, grooved rod, and fingers or guides. Fig. 5 is a section through the line x of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detached view of the gage-wheel on the left side ofthe reaper.

My improvements consist in a new mode of attaching the tongue to the carriage of the reaper; a mode of delivering the grain by causing the apron to drop at intervals; a mode of varying the size of the apron; a mode of keeping up the Scythe-blade to the shear-ed ges of the fingers or guides, and a mode of regulating the height of the machine so as to make it answer for a reaper and mower.

Instead of the usual mode of attaching the tongue to the frame or carriage by a swiveljoint, I attach it by means ot' a strong springpiece, ct a, of iron or other material, the spring being bolted to the frame at the ends a a.

To prevent the tongue from twisting about I make a slot in the tongue, through which passes the upright guide-piece a2, so as to admit of free play of the tongue vertically and restrain its lateral motions and twisting.

' The mode of delivering the grain is as follows: The apron b, upon which the grain is re` ceived after it is cut bythe scythes, is hinged at b, and by a simple mechanical contrivance is made to drop its load at proper intervals. This is effected by theaction ofthe cam c, fixed to the axis of the driving-wheel upon the rod d and crank d', connected with the apron so as y the cam the apron falls by its own weight.

In order to prevent the grain from running over the apron before itdrops, I make the apron extensible at pleasure by the addition ot' an eXtra or sliding apron, b2, placed under the apron b and movable back and forth at pleasure, and kept in place by the ordinary devices of guides or ways and set-screws.

There maybe various ways adopted of effecting the regular depression and elevation of the apron or platform,77 as it is sometimes called; and I do not claim the present mode of doing it, as I regard the dropping of the apron at intervals irrespective ofthe means as the important feature of my improvement. When thev machine is used asa mower for grass the apron must be taken otf from the machine.

Various mechanical devices may be adopted to work the apron, and I have merely shown one, not intending to claim it. As represented in the. drawings, the rod d is out of gear with the cam c, and it is .thrown vinto gear by the depression of the spring e by the foot of .the rider, who sits on the seat s. This is effected as follows: The spring c is attached at the rear end to the side beam of the carriage, its forward end being free. At the point e" there is an ear or projecting piece, (see Fig. 5,) from which projects downward a slotted piece, 7c, the oblique slot being indicated by k'. It will be seen that the rod e passes through this slot and is pushed from sidel to side or thrown out of gear by the motion up and down of the slotted piece. The motion ofthe rod is checked when` out of gear by the cheek-piecep on the side beam of the carriage, (shown in Fig. 1,) and which also appears within the slot k in Fig. 5. Therefore when the drivers foot is upon spring e the apron works, and viceversa.

There are many ways of throwing the apron` in and out of action, and I do not now claim the mode which I have shown, as I regard the improvement to consist in controlling the working of the apron by throwing it in and out of gear at pleasure. The scythe-platefis driven back and forth by the usual mode of gearing adopted in reaping-machines.

Great diiiiculty under almost every variety of construction in these machines has been eX- perienced in consequence of the clogging of the scythe by the grass and straw getting between the scythe and the lingers or guides. I provide against this by a contrivance for keeping the Scythe-plate closely against the shearedges of the guides or fingers, which leaves a clear open space, h, under the Scythe-plate for the escape ofne grass, &c. Various attempts have been made to effect this object; but the downward pressure upon the Scythe would require so much eounteracting pressure to keep it up the friction would become excessive. This dit'liculty I obviate by the use ofa grooved bar, t', under the Scythe-plate, the grooved bar being` kept up against the Scythe-plate by setscrews. The object of this grooved bar is to exert the proper pressure to keep the seythe up against the shear-edges, and yet to obvi aie excessive friction by keeping' the groom filled withoihwhich isto be poured in atproper times through suitable apertures through the Scythe-plate.

In order to adapt my machine to the tivofold purposes of reaping and mowing, I attach to each side infront adjustable Wheels, and make the Wheel on the right side a casterwheel, which turns about a pivot as Well as upon its axis. The wheel 1' is the caster'- wheel.

The pivot tof this wheel turns in a head, ze, movable up and down in the guides u n, and Aheld in place by set-screws in the common ivay. The Wheel 1", Fig. 6, is adjustable up and down by means of the hinged arm mand the standard x passing through a slot in the arm m, and pierced With numerous holes to receive check-pins after the usual manner ot' adjusting gagewheels in plows, Ste. The red lines m m indicate inerel y side boards to the rea'per. rIhe scythe is Worked back and forth by means of a rod, x2, operating upon a bell-crank in the usual manner.

Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. Making the hinged apron extensible, substantially in the manner set forth.

2. rIhe mode ot' keeping the Scythe-plate to the shear-edges of the guides, said mode consisting in the employment of a groovedy pressure plate or bar and setserews, for the purposes herein set forth.

J. E. NEWCOM'B. Vitnesses:

E. FOREMAN, E. SHAW. 

